So, it's official the Ninja Gaiden II demo is now ready for download on Xbox Live. Microsoft kindly informs us that, "The demo takes place in Chapter 1: Sky City Tokyo, where you’ll have access to an expanded set of weapons (four primary and two projectile weapons + two Ninpo powers) and plenty of Black Spider Ninja Clan to dismember. Play through roughly 3/4 of the chapter using the new and better balanced Path of the Acolyte difficulty."

There is even more detail:

"Standard Weapons: Dragon Sword, Scythe, Claws, Staff
- Projectile Weapons: Shuriken, Bow and Arrow
- Ninpo: Wind and Fire
- Weapon level: 3 (this is max weapon level…)
- Difficulty level: Acolyte only
- Expected gameplay: 30 minutes"

But why would this make Microsoft's Major Nelson feel like an ass? Well, the demo is not available in Germany (blood), the USA or Canada (licensing) or India (censoring). This came as a shock to the good Major as he had announced:

"I have just left a meeting where I was told that the Ninja Gaiden II demo released last week in Japan will be released tomorrow at 0200 PT for the remaining Xbox LIVE regions (except India and Germany.) As usual, I’ll post a reminder when it is available, but since so many folks have nicely asked for an update…here ya go."

But there, indeed, 'ya' didn't go. At least not if you live in Des Moines or Montreal. This lead to Mr Nelson having to post...

"So this is the edit where I get to feel like an ass. As many of you know, I never usually post information about a demo until it is actually available on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

"Well, with this post I went against that little voice in my head and gave you a heads up. I just received an email that proves I should have listened to that voice.

"It turns out the demo will NOT be available in Canada and the U.S. (in addition to India and Germany as noted above.) I don’t know when a demo will be available for the other regions, but hopefully it will be by the end of the week (as originally stated.) My apologies. You can be sure that I am going to have a a few conversations with a some people about this."

We love the "have a few conversations" bit.

Anyway, at least if your live in Morecombe, Mallaig, Marseilles or Machynlleth, you can indeed download and enjoy. We wonder if Tomonobu Itagaki, Ninja Gaiden II's designer, has downloaded it to play while he considers what to do with himself since he resigned?

^{(Of course he hasn't Ed.)}